Click No Start

[Lloyd R]

I have a 1996 454 Mercruiser. It wont turn over. I have 12.8 volts to the starter solenoid when I turn the key.
So I took the ground wire off the battery/engine. It wasn't in bad shape at all. I cleaned the connectors. I removed the new starter and sanded were it butts up to the block since I thought it was a source of ground. The boat still just clicks when I try to start.
Not sure if it could be any of these purple wires. I can't figure out were they go.
Any helpful ideas?

 

[alldodge]

Welcome
Did the motor run fine before now and is this a new issue?

Lets start with the basics, need a voltmeter

Is this a carb or EFI motor?
Motor serial numbers are best

Are you getting a click at the starter and nothing else or a click somewhere else like the slave relay?

 

[Lloyd R]

Hello. This is a carb motor. I just got the boat. I took it out 2 times. It always clicked for a bit before it started but eventually it would turn over.
The last time I took it out I had to tap on the starter to get it started. So that's the reason for replacing the starter.

I am getting a click at the slave solenoid.
Serial # 10237297
I do have a voltmeter.

 

[alldodge]

Just to make sure we are talking about the same thing

The slave relay is on top the motor which the key energizes when turned to start. The relay sends power down to the starter solenoid on top the starter to energize it



You can turn key to ON/Run and jump across the top to large terminals and the starter should engage

 

[Lloyd R]

I tried that. It doesn't do anything. I did replace the slave solenoid as well.

 

[alldodge]

Doing nothing means most likely the 90 amp fuse on the starter is blown of some really bad corrosion. Crossing those terminals would engage the starter even with key off.

Measure voltage on red/purple wire on the slave and there should be Bat voltage (you said 12.8)

If no voltage then check voltage on either side of 90 amp fuse. Starter post and smaller post with red/purple wire

 

[Lloyd R]

I have bat voltage traveling from the slave to the starter when key engaged. I measured it at the starter as well. (12.4v on big red starter wire and 12.3 on yellow solenoid wire on starter)
However I do not have the 90amp fuse that you sent a pic of. The cable connects directly to the starter solenoid.

 

[alldodge]

With 12+V on the yel/red going to solenoid then starter should energize

We're missing something, new starter and motor will crank and start is smacked.

Pull the plugs and see if there is any water in the cylinders

See if you can turn it over using the belts and pulleys after plugs are out

 

[Fun Times]

To be safe, you’re going to want to pull the spark plugs and make sure there’s no water in the cylinders before continuing to try to start the engine.

 

[Lloyd R]

I replaced the old starter. It was the one I would tap to get it to turn over. Ever since I put the new starter in I get nothing but a click.
I will try to jumper from 12v red to yellow solenoid and let you know

 

[Lloyd R]

Nothing. I jumper from red 12v large battery wire to Yellow and not a thing. Dead silent.

 

[alldodge]

Bat is dead, starter is or connection is

 

[Lloyd R]

Battery is new marine battery. It is reading 12.4 v currently.

 

[Lloyd R]

I took the starter to Oreilly auto and it tested good. I put 12v to it and it energized as well.
I'm thinking bad ground. Thats why I took the starter off and sanded the mating surfaces.
Is there a way to ground the starter?

 

[alldodge]

Battery is new marine battery. It is reading 12.4 v currently.

You have a bad connection, might be the ground cable

Fully charged Bat would read 12.7V
Reading less then that could mean a meter issue but the starter so energize going from starter post (red wire) to yel/red (solenoid) no matter what

 

[Lloyd R]

It really has me stumped. I have to be missing something simple unless I have a burnt wire somewhere. The old starter solenoid was stuck running. I would have to tap the solenoind to get it to stop. But it seems I am bypassing everything by jumping from the red wire to the yellow.

Looking at the last picture I posted, could I jumper from one side of the large starter terminals to the other large starter terminal?

 

[dubs283]

Picture in post #7 shows the yel/red wire connected to the wrong primary post at the starter solenoid

Yel/red needs attached to the inside (closer to block) post

 

[alldodge]

Picture in post #7 shows the yel/red wire connected to the wrong primary post at the starter solenoid

Yel/red needs attached to the inside (closer to block) post

Good catch

Show a better pic of wires attached to solenoid

 

[Scott Danforth]

Agreed, start wire (yellow with red stripe) is on the R terminal, not the S terminal

 

[Lloyd R]

Ohh my goodness! Thank you guys so much. That was it! It turns over solid.